Ulfar
2009-03-17, 08:04 AM
Hey all,
I thought I would post some of my experience with the Slayer class since it becomes available to everyone today. I had the opportunity to test the Slayer out on the test server before it was available from the live event. Mythic allowed the testers to create a level 40 Slayer with a few pieces of set armor and decent weapons.
I created three Slayers, one of each mastery path, and played them in PvE and RvR. I will say that all three paths are excellent at level 40, and it is really up to your play style what you will want to master. I will try my best to explain each path in this post.
Path of the Troll Slayer:
As a secondary mastery you can choose giant or skaven and be very effective.
With the giant secondary you increase the damage of your exhaustive attacks, which is your main focus with this build.
With the skaven secondary you increase your AoE damage, which is good for RvR and PQs. You also get the tactic Takin Chances, which heals you while you are furious and even more while berserk, thus keeping you alive longer.
With the TrollSlayer build you focus on staying alive in fights for a longer duration, while doing a lot of DPS to a single target using exhaustive blows and positional attacks. In my opinion this is the best solo build to go with. Pulverizing Strike and Relentless Strike and Deep Wound will be your three main opening attacks. Which will reduce your target's toughness, reduce incoming heals, and giving them a bleeding DoT.
The best thing for you to do is to get behind your enemy, use your openers, then lay into them with Spinecrusher until you gain enough rage for exhaustive attacks. Deathblow is obvious for it's insane damage, but when facing a DPS class its best to open with Enervating Blow, which reduces their chance to crit by 100% for 10 seconds. The next atttack you will most likely use if you are taking a bit of damage is Rune of Absorption.
This is the TrollSlayer's defining ability. It is a string of attacks that deals 225 damage, six times for up to five seconds, all the damage is returned as heals to the Trollslayer. If you are really low on health you can use Incapacitate to knock your opponent down for three seconds before using Rune of Absorption. Simple right?
Now let us talk about what tactics to use with this path because they are what really makes the Trollslayer shine.
First there is Power Through. This tactic allows you to use exhaustive blows without using any rage. So you could use all your EAs over and over again (minus cooldowns).
Next there is The Bigger They Are.. This tactic reduces the cooldown of Spinecrusher and Deathblow by 25%.
Next is Short Temper. This tactic reduces all cooldowns by 5 seconds while berserk. (With Power Through you are almost always berserk!)
Last is Hastened Punishment. This tactic reduces the cooldowns on all exhaustive attacks
by 25%.
This is my opinion for the best Trollslayer tactics, you can change them to many other ways and still be effective, but let me explain why this is awesome.
As you can tell EAs are the main focus here. The combined cooldowns will let you use Death blow every ten seconds! This is a major improvement from 30 seconds. With all the cooldowns reduced, and your rage staying full, you really are a DPS machine.
The obvious downside to this build is that you are furious/berserk most of the time. To counter this you should focus on having your renown points and gear going towards Toughness, Str/Wpnskill, and Wounds. In that order from highest to lowest.
Next I will talk about abilities....
Rampage:For 10 seconds all attacks can not be blocked or parried, when furious lasts 20 seconds.
This is a great ability to use in duels against tanks and other DPS to take them down even faster.
Reckless Gamble: While this ability is active, your Melee attacks will do 150 damage and you will get hit for 75 damage. As a TrollSlayer you can heal yourself a bit so running this ability is usually worth it.
Gudrun's Warcry: Your groupmates are inspired by your eagerness to fight. Your group's abilities cost 25% fewer Action Points for 20 seconds.
This is good to use during raids, RvR, PQs, and even solo. Use it wisely because it has a 60s cooldown.
Even the Odds:Your Toughness is increased by 40 for each enemy within 30 feet, up to a maximum of 6 enemies. This effect will fade after 10 seconds.
Useful whenever you get swarmed with enemies, anywhere.
Trollslayers in RvR:
Your main job is to kill the healers. After taking the healers out you should target the nearest soft armored enemies and kill them. If your still alive go for the other DPS classes. If you are somehow still alive (great healers!) assist with the tanks.
Classes who are troublesome for the Trollslayer:
DoK: Their heals are better than yours, and can usually out heal your DPS. These are hard battles. The best way to deal with them is to use Incapacitate whenever possible to keep them from healing.
Tanks: Obviously, with high HP and Armor they pose somewhat of a threat. The best way to deal with them is to use your toughness debuff, activate Rampage and wail away with EAs.
That's pretty much it for the Trollslayer. I hope it helps out!
My next post will be on the Giantslayer mastery. Stay tuned....
I thought I would post some of my experience with the Slayer class since it becomes available to everyone today. I had the opportunity to test the Slayer out on the test server before it was available from the live event. Mythic allowed the testers to create a level 40 Slayer with a few pieces of set armor and decent weapons.
I created three Slayers, one of each mastery path, and played them in PvE and RvR. I will say that all three paths are excellent at level 40, and it is really up to your play style what you will want to master. I will try my best to explain each path in this post.
Path of the Troll Slayer:
As a secondary mastery you can choose giant or skaven and be very effective.
With the giant secondary you increase the damage of your exhaustive attacks, which is your main focus with this build.
With the skaven secondary you increase your AoE damage, which is good for RvR and PQs. You also get the tactic Takin Chances, which heals you while you are furious and even more while berserk, thus keeping you alive longer.
With the TrollSlayer build you focus on staying alive in fights for a longer duration, while doing a lot of DPS to a single target using exhaustive blows and positional attacks. In my opinion this is the best solo build to go with. Pulverizing Strike and Relentless Strike and Deep Wound will be your three main opening attacks. Which will reduce your target's toughness, reduce incoming heals, and giving them a bleeding DoT.
The best thing for you to do is to get behind your enemy, use your openers, then lay into them with Spinecrusher until you gain enough rage for exhaustive attacks. Deathblow is obvious for it's insane damage, but when facing a DPS class its best to open with Enervating Blow, which reduces their chance to crit by 100% for 10 seconds. The next atttack you will most likely use if you are taking a bit of damage is Rune of Absorption.
This is the TrollSlayer's defining ability. It is a string of attacks that deals 225 damage, six times for up to five seconds, all the damage is returned as heals to the Trollslayer. If you are really low on health you can use Incapacitate to knock your opponent down for three seconds before using Rune of Absorption. Simple right?
Now let us talk about what tactics to use with this path because they are what really makes the Trollslayer shine.
First there is Power Through. This tactic allows you to use exhaustive blows without using any rage. So you could use all your EAs over and over again (minus cooldowns).
Next there is The Bigger They Are.. This tactic reduces the cooldown of Spinecrusher and Deathblow by 25%.
Next is Short Temper. This tactic reduces all cooldowns by 5 seconds while berserk. (With Power Through you are almost always berserk!)
Last is Hastened Punishment. This tactic reduces the cooldowns on all exhaustive attacks
by 25%.
This is my opinion for the best Trollslayer tactics, you can change them to many other ways and still be effective, but let me explain why this is awesome.
As you can tell EAs are the main focus here. The combined cooldowns will let you use Death blow every ten seconds! This is a major improvement from 30 seconds. With all the cooldowns reduced, and your rage staying full, you really are a DPS machine.
The obvious downside to this build is that you are furious/berserk most of the time. To counter this you should focus on having your renown points and gear going towards Toughness, Str/Wpnskill, and Wounds. In that order from highest to lowest.
Next I will talk about abilities....
Rampage:For 10 seconds all attacks can not be blocked or parried, when furious lasts 20 seconds.
This is a great ability to use in duels against tanks and other DPS to take them down even faster.
Reckless Gamble: While this ability is active, your Melee attacks will do 150 damage and you will get hit for 75 damage. As a TrollSlayer you can heal yourself a bit so running this ability is usually worth it.
Gudrun's Warcry: Your groupmates are inspired by your eagerness to fight. Your group's abilities cost 25% fewer Action Points for 20 seconds.
This is good to use during raids, RvR, PQs, and even solo. Use it wisely because it has a 60s cooldown.
Even the Odds:Your Toughness is increased by 40 for each enemy within 30 feet, up to a maximum of 6 enemies. This effect will fade after 10 seconds.
Useful whenever you get swarmed with enemies, anywhere.
Trollslayers in RvR:
Your main job is to kill the healers. After taking the healers out you should target the nearest soft armored enemies and kill them. If your still alive go for the other DPS classes. If you are somehow still alive (great healers!) assist with the tanks.
Classes who are troublesome for the Trollslayer:
DoK: Their heals are better than yours, and can usually out heal your DPS. These are hard battles. The best way to deal with them is to use Incapacitate whenever possible to keep them from healing.
Tanks: Obviously, with high HP and Armor they pose somewhat of a threat. The best way to deal with them is to use your toughness debuff, activate Rampage and wail away with EAs.
That's pretty much it for the Trollslayer. I hope it helps out!
My next post will be on the Giantslayer mastery. Stay tuned....